Amwins Program Underwriters (APU) has announced a new carrier relationship supporting its Architects & Engineers (A&E) program. The update introduces an A+ XV-rated carrier, as rated by A.M. Best, which strengthens the program’s financial backing and long-term stability. The program continues to provide professional liability coverage for architectural and engineering firms across the United States.

The new carrier relationship allows APU to enhance several aspects of the program. These improvements include stronger paper and financial backing, increased underwriting authority, and more dynamic pricing capabilities. In addition, APU now has greater control over claims oversight and outcomes. Despite these updates, the program’s appetite, limits, eligible classes, and coverage terms remain unchanged.

Brett Fowler, Vice President at APU and A&E Program Manager, said the change reflects a continued focus on stability and service. He noted that architects, engineers, and design professionals work in complex environments and require reliable coverage partners. He also stated that the updated program will continue to deliver responsive service and thorough underwriting for agents and clients.

The APU A&E program serves firms with annual revenues of $750K and above. It offers professional liability coverage for architects, engineers, other design professionals, and agency construction managers. The program includes primary practice and follow-form excess policy limits of up to $5M per claim and $5M aggregate.

In addition, the program provides a range of flexible coverage options that firms can tailor to their needs. These include pre-claims and subpoena assistance, crisis management coverage, pollution and technology coverage, and worldwide protection. The program also offers voluntary mediation credit and first-dollar defense options for select risks.

APU distributes the program through wholesale brokers and retail partners. Coverage is currently available on a non-admitted basis in all states except Florida.

For more information, visit the APU A&E webpage on amwins.com.

About Amwins Program Underwriters Amwins Program Underwriters (APU) is a managing general agency (MGA) specializing in affinity and program management. For more than 30 years, APU has developed and maintained programs for a variety of niche markets that provide broad-based property and casualty coverage. Today, the company administers more than 40 programs, generating premiums exceeding $700 million annually. About Amwins Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S., dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 138 offices worldwide and handles premium placements of more than $49 billion annually. For more information, visit amwins.com. Get the latest insurance market updates and discover exclusive program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com. 

Amwins and Vivere have launched an exclusive California FAIR Plan Wrap product designed to address coverage gaps for insureds who rely on the state's insurer of last resort. Developed by Vivere and distributed exclusively through Amwins, the new product offers comprehensive coverage for commercial and dwelling risks across entire portfolios of California FAIR Plan insureds.

Filling a Gap in the California Property Market

Wildfire exposure, regulatory constraints, and capacity limitations have pushed many California property owners onto the FAIR Plan. However, the FAIR Plan does not cover all perils, and its limits often fall short of what insureds need. The Wrap product provides non-fire protection and covers losses that exceed FAIR Plan limits, bringing total coverage closer to private-market standards.

Product Details

For commercial risks, the product offers wrap limits up to $100 million. Dwelling wrap limits are available up to $3 million. All offerings are written on "A" rated paper and are subject to the Wrap policy's terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. Vivere built the product on proprietary technology that streamlines the quoting process. Using only a completed California FAIR Plan application, retailers can generate quotes for individual risks or entire portfolios within minutes. "Efficiency and underwriting discipline don't have to be mutually exclusive," said Rachael Dougherty, Chief Underwriting Officer, Specialty Property at Vivere. "This product brings together advanced technology and experienced underwriting to make it faster and easier for agents to place complex California property risks." Bob Black, Executive Vice President and National Property Practice Leader at Amwins, added: "In today's California property market, the FAIR Plan is often a necessary starting point, but it's rarely a complete solution. This product was built to address the real coverage gaps insureds are facing, combining broad protection, strong paper, and a streamlined placement process to help our partners deliver quality solutions with confidence."

About the Companies

Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 138 offices worldwide and handles premium placements of more than $50 billion annually. Vivere, founded in 2025, is an independently owned specialty insurance platform. The company focuses on pairing underwriting expertise with purpose-built technology to improve speed, precision, and efficiency. For more information, contact your Amwins property broker or Amwins Access underwriter. Get the latest insurance market updates and discover exclusive program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com. 

Amwins Program Underwriters (APU) has formed a new carrier partnership with Sentry Insurance to support its Inland Marine Contractors' Equipment Program. APU is part of the Amwins Underwriting division. The program provides coverage for equipment central to contractor operations. In addition to cranes, riggers, concrete pumpers, and millwrights, protection extends to owned, rented, and borrowed equipment. Specialists with 50 years of combined inland marine experience will write coverage. The program is distributed through Amwins brokers and retail partners and adds to APU's broader suite of construction-related offerings. It provides admitted and non-admitted solutions, backed by Sentry's A+ rating. Heather Frain, senior vice president and head of inland marine at APU, said the program addresses a clear need. "Contractors rely on their equipment to keep business moving, and when that equipment is at risk, so is their bottom line," she said. "This new offering positions us right at the intersection between efficiency and expertise, allowing us to identify gaps in coverage and quickly solve our clients' needs." Jon Beckham, president of APU, said the partnership brings together underwriting discipline and carrier access. "We're combining underwriting discipline with access to top-rated carriers like Sentry to bring smarter solutions to market and deliver the coverage contractors truly need," he said. Heather Schenker, head of specialty insurance at Sentry, said the relationship reflects shared priorities. "This relationship aligns with our values of integrity, strength, and service and reflects our shared commitment to helping businesses protect their assets, reduce downtime, and get back to work quickly when the unexpected happens," she said. For more information, visit Amwins Program Underwriters’ Inland Marine Contractors Equipment Program. About Amwins Program Underwriters Amwins Program Underwriters (APU) is an in-house managing general agent (MGA) within Amwins, providing brokers with exclusive access to a comprehensive portfolio of specialty programs. Backed by the resources and market relationships of one of the largest wholesale distributors in the U.S., APU delivers competitive rates, superior service, and deep underwriting expertise across a range of specialty lines—including professional liability, casualty, and property programs. About Amwins Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S., dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 138 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $50 billion annually. For more information, visit amwins.com. About Sentry Sentry Insurance is one of the largest and most financially secure mutual insurance groups in the United States, holding a Financial Strength Rating of A+ (superior) from AM Best, current as of June 2025, and maintain a Financial Size Category of XV – the largest category AM Best makes available. See ambest.com/ratings/guide.pdf for rating information. Beyond its core offerings of property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities, and retirement programs for businesses and individuals, Sentry has expanded its expertise into the specialty insurance market with Sentry Specialty.  The division writes both non-admitted business through Point Excess and Surplus Insurance Company and admitted business through Point Specialty Insurance Company. Headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sentry employs over 5,000 associates across the country. See a complete list of underwriting companies at sentry.com. Get the latest insurance market updates and discover exclusive program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com. 

Trinity Underwriting Managers (TUMI), an Amwins Underwriting MGA focused on niche and hard-to-place transportation risks, today announced that Tisha Baptist and Sara Rodriguez, two of its expert underwriters, are stepping into new roles. Tisha Baptist joined TUMI in 2023, supporting both the towing and sand + gravel programs as a renewal underwriter. In her new role, she will exclusively focus on towing, leading the underwriting efforts for TUMI’s 17-year-old program – one of the longest-standing in the industry. Prior to joining TUMI, Baptist spent 13 years underwriting large fleet accounts at AIG. Sara Rodriguez has been with TUMI since 2018, starting as a technical assistant and working her way up to her new position as senior underwriter. In her new role, she will lead the underwriting efforts for TUMI’s 15-year-old intermodal program, also one of the longest-standing in the industry. Rodriguez recently completed her CPCU and TRS designations, further demonstrating her commitment to underwriting excellence. “We are so fortunate to have Tisha and Sara on our team,” said Stephen Standing, EVP, TUMI. “Not only are they excellent underwriters; they are excellent at taking care of their clients. Our towing and intermodal programs are now especially poised for growth.” TUMI’s towing and intermodal programs, along with its full specialty transportation portfolio, are written on A+XV paper, providing added stability in a tough trucking market. Get the latest insurance market updates and discover exclusive program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com. 

Amwins, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has released its Public Entity State of the Market Report. The report provides a detailed look at the risk environment facing municipalities, school districts, and other government organizations across the U.S. It presents current market conditions, key pressures, and areas of continued focus for insurers and public entities.

Overall, the report describes a market that remains largely stable. However, insurers continue to manage several ongoing pressures, including catastrophe exposure, legal system abuse, and rising liability costs.

Darron Johnston, EVP at Amwins Brokerage, said competition remains strong in the public entity property market. He noted that capacity is readily available across most segments. At the same time, he emphasized that underwriting discipline remains critical, especially for accounts with significant catastrophe exposure or challenging loss histories.

Current property conditions favor insureds. Rates are softening due to healthy combined ratios, new market entrants, and strong carrier appetite for growth. However, insurers are increasing scrutiny during underwriting. They are closely reviewing property valuations, construction details, roof age, and mitigation efforts when evaluating risks.

On the casualty side, the market continues to face complex legal and regulatory pressures. Capacity remains stable, but carriers are maintaining firm underwriting standards. This is particularly true for high-severity exposures such as law enforcement operations, transportation-related liability, and sexual abuse and molestation claims.

Brian Frost, EVP at Amwins Brokerage, said liability exposures remain one of the most significant challenges for public entities. He explained that nuclear verdicts, third-party litigation funding, and evolving legal theories are contributing to higher claim severity and more complex placements.

The report outlines several key insights shaping the public entity insurance market:

Property Market Softening

Increased capacity and competition are driving improved pricing and broader terms across many segments. This trend is particularly evident for middle-market entities such as regional school districts and municipalities.

FEMA Reform Implications

Proposed changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program could shift more disaster recovery costs to state and local governments. As a result, risk transfer strategies may become increasingly important.

Growing Interest in Parametric Solutions

Public entities are exploring parametric insurance to address coverage gaps created by deductibles, sub-limits, and exclusions. This interest is especially strong in catastrophe-prone regions.

Litigation and Liability Pressures

Nuclear verdicts, reviver statutes, and claims moving to federal courts are driving higher liability costs for municipalities and public institutions.

Technology and Risk Management

Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are helping insurers and public entities assess exposures, improve underwriting accuracy, and identify emerging risk trends.

Despite increased competition in certain areas, carriers continue to focus on underwriting fundamentals. They are placing importance on credible loss history and jurisdictional risk when evaluating public entity accounts.

Ali Hoefle, VP of Marketing at Amwins Brokerage, said public entities face a unique set of risks tied to the critical services they provide. She added that Amwins specialists work closely with retail partners to structure programs that address current exposures.

The full Public Entity State of the Market Report is available from Amwins.

Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S. The company serves retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Amwins operates through more than 155 offices globally and handles premium placements exceeding $50 billion annually.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve — explore more industry insights and program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com.

The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU), a provider of workers’ compensation insurance for waterfront employers, has announced that Mike Adams, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, has been appointed to the Shipbuilders Council of America Partners Committee. The committee represents shipyard supplier and partner members and works to strengthen engagement across the shipbuilding industrial base.

AEU shared the announcement as part of its ongoing involvement in the maritime and shipbuilding sectors. Adams will represent AEU while contributing to the committee’s efforts to support collaboration among organizations connected to the U.S. shipyard industry.

Adams’ Role and Industry Experience

Adams has been with AEU since 1995. During his tenure, he has held leadership roles in finance, underwriting, and sales. In his current position as Executive Vice President and Managing Director, he helps guide the company’s strategic direction. In addition, he supports relationships across the maritime industry.

According to AEU leadership, Adams’ experience will support the work of the Shipbuilders Council of America and its partner members.

“A strong shipbuilding industry supports a stronger maritime economy, and that work depends on serious collaboration across shipyards, suppliers, and the broader waterfront community,” said Win Thurber, Chief Commercial Officer of AEU. “Mike brings steady leadership and deep industry knowledge to this role, and we are proud to see him represent AEU alongside the Shipbuilders Council of America and its members.”

Shipbuilders Council of America

The Shipbuilders Council of America is the national trade association for the U.S. shipyard industry. The organization supports and promotes the American shipyard sector, including shipbuilders, ship repairers, and the supplier base that supports these operations.

The council provides strategic information and expertise to its members. It also advocates on behalf of the shipyard industry before Congress, the Executive Branch, and the media.

About The American Equity Underwriters, Inc.

The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU), an Amwins company, serves as program administrator for American Longshore Mutual Association Ltd. The association is a group self-insurance fund authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor for waterfront employers in all 50 states under the United States Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Based in Mobile, Alabama, AEU provides services that include claims handling, loss control, longshore consulting, and additional support for waterfront employers.

For more information, call (866) 238-8754 or visit amequity.com. AEU also shares updates through its Facebook and LinkedIn channels.

Get the latest insurance market updates and discover exclusive program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com. 

Amwins Special Risk Underwriters (SRU) has announced the launch of its Primary Construction program, an exclusive casualty solution designed to give brokers more flexibility in placing primary construction liability risks.

Amwins Access, a leader in small business insurance solutions and personal lines coverage, has released its 2026 State of the Market report, providing an in-depth analysis of emerging trends and market conditions across key segments, helping brokers and clients stay ahead in a dynamic insurance landscape while capitalizing on evolving conditions. The report outlines key shifts shaping next year’s placement environment, including softening in property, selective firmness in casualty, and the ongoing influence of digital tools and valuation discipline. “Retail agents continue to navigate a market that’s stabilizing but still highly nuanced,” said Troy Santora, chief underwriting officer at Amwins Access. “Our 2026 outlook is designed to help our partners anticipate changes and deliver strategic guidance to their clients.” “Small business and personal lines are entering 2026 from a more stable position than we’ve seen in years,” said Nate Mathis, president at Amwins Access. “Our goal is to give retailers clarity and confidence, helping them anticipate changes and compete effectively in a market that’s still moving quickly.”

2026 Market Landscape

Heading into 2026, the small business and personal lines marketplace reflects a mix of selective softening, returning appetite, and disciplined underwriting. After several years of disruption and rate escalation, property is easing across many territories, while casualty, garag,e and certain CAT-exposed regions still face upward pressure. Technology continues to advance underwriting efficiency, and valuation accuracy remains a defining factor in carrier decision-making.

Key Highlights

• Property market softening accelerates: The property segment shows notable and consistent softening, with rate reductions emerging across most territories, particularly in non-CAT and moderate-CAT regions. Deductibles are easing, new entrants are returning, and underwriters are expanding appetite, including exploration of “brokerage light” structures for small and mid-sized accounts.
• Homeowners market stabilizes, with appetite returning: Standard personal lines homeowners continue to stabilize, with coverage breadth improving and rates flattening or decreasing in many low-CAT areas. CAT-exposed markets, especially in California, remain selective due to capacity concentration concerns, ZIP-code accumulation limits, and ongoing wildfire exposure challenges. In high-value homeowners, capacity is returning to difficult regions, though selective underwriting and strategic layering remain common. Affluent insureds continue adopting higher deductibles and sublimits to manage costs while keeping meaningful coverage.
• Casualty and garage maintain firm conditions: Casualty rates remain moderately firm, driven by social inflation, litigation funding, and severity trends. Clean accounts with strong risk controls are seeing more competitive outcomes, while higher-hazard classes still face pressure. In garage, rising repair costs, theft exposure, and regulatory requirements continue to influence pricing. Dealers face elevated deductibles and rate pressure, while repair-only operations are beginning to see modest softening. Surplus lines flexibility in several states is helping absorb displaced business as admitted capacity contracts.
• Technology integration continues to transform the ecosystem: Digital platforms, automated rating, and AI-enabled submissions remain central to accelerating speed, accuracy, and transparency. Retailers are leveraging these tools to enhance client conversations, improve comparisons, and strengthen the quality of submissions. Amwins’ digital infrastructure, powered by Amwins IQ and data-driven underwriting insights, continues to offer retailers a competitive advantage in navigating rapidly shifting market appetite.

Navigating Change with Amwins Access

With expanding carrier partnerships, specialized expertise across hundreds of classes, and a growing suite of digital tools, Amwins Access continues to equip retailers with the intelligence and market reach needed to navigate shifting small business and personal lines environments. Early submissions, transparent risk practices and ongoing valuation management remain key differentiators for brokers seeking improved outcomes in 2026. Explore the Full Report For more information, visit: Amwins Access State of the Market Report: 2026 Outlook About Amwins Access Amwins Access specializes in small business insurance solutions and personal lines coverage, offering streamlined access to both admitted and non-admitted markets. With expertise spanning a broad range of risks, Amwins Access delivers customized insurance solutions that help retail agents meet their clients' needs efficiently and effectively. Backed by the resources and relationships of Amwins, the Access division combines local expertise with global reach to provide unmatched service and innovative product offerings. For more information, visit Small Business Insurance | Amwins.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve — explore more industry insights and program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com.